Spray nozzle



Feb. 28, 1950 FLETCHER 2,499,021

SPRAY NOZZLE Filed Feb. 6, 1947 may;

IN V EN TOR.

Patented Feb. 28, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT. OFFICE Lynn Fletcher, Lowell, MiclL, assignorto Lowell Specialty Company; Lowell; Michz, a; corporation. of- Michigan:

Application February 6, Serial 4-Claims; (01:. 299-89) This invention pertains to sprayers and devices oflike character'and, more particularly; to'a nozzle mechanism for sprayersutilizing compressed air for ejection of a liquid from the nozzle. While the invention is especially useful in garden and agricultural sprayersand for insect control in doors and outdoors, it is'also applicable to other spray mechanisms for various spraying purposes. In the interests of simplification the invention will be disclosed herein ina formand application suitable for household and garden spray guns; those skilled in the art may readily adapt the principles to other sprayers.

One of the primary'objects of the invention is to provide a spraynozzle adjustment so simple oi construction and in use as materially to reduce manufacturing costs and at once to provide an eflicient and effective spray in the hands of a rel atively unskilled user.

Another important object is to provide a spray nozzle mechanism so designed and constructed as to provide either a rich or a lean spray mixture, in the one case providing a greater proportion of liquid to a given quantity of air than in the latter case. In this connection it should be observed that the preferred arrangement issuch that there are but twopositions, the ric and the lean so that nothing is left to the discretion ofthe unskilled user; the quantitative proportions of liquid and air (or other gas) being. predetermined and fixed: However; by suitable modifications a plurality of adjustments greaterthan two; for selection by'the user, maybe provided, as will be appreciated as the disclosure proceeds.

Many other objectives, including the provision of a novel aspirating means whereby air is forced or inducted into the liquid to mix therewith and to cause the liquid to be broken into a spray so fine and evenly distributed as to be of the nature 'descriptionand, claims and after examination of the accompanying drawing. inwhich:.

Fig. 1 isaside elevational view of a hand operated pump-type. spray gun embodying, the 51mph.- fied form of the invention to. which, reference has been made above.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged view, corresponding to Fig. 1, of the forward. end of the spray gun withv some parts in mean section and other parts in phantom view.- '3

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail viewoff'the. nozzle part looking from the top in: Fig. I. Y

Figs. 4. and: 5, respectivelyare. mean. sectional views of the nozzle structure and a fragmentary portion of the spray pump barrel, showing the parts as they'appear' when in the rich and in the lean spray positions, and

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken transversely of the nozzle axis on the line 6-6 of Fig; 5.

The invention is illustrated in connection with an ordinary type of hand spray gun. In Fig. 1 the sprayer includes an air pump having a barrel or cylinder 2 Within which a piston '3 carried'by a piston rod 4 is reciprocated back and forth by a suitable handle 5. The piston rod is guided by a barrel closure member 6 which is held in place in the barrel by a set screw 1. An air vent 8 in the barrel permits air to enter the barrel wherein it passes to the forward side of the piston on the back stroke and is compressed and forced into the reservoir and out of the nozzle on the forward stroke of the piston- In this embodiment of the spray gun the forward end of the barrel" is enlarged circumferentially, as indicated at 9, to re ceive the piston and its cup-leather II when not in use. this arrangement permitting the cup leather to expand so that it will maintain tight frictional engagement. with the walls of the barrel or cylinder when in use.

The forward end. of the barrel is closed by a metal. cap I2 which may be double seamed or otherwise: secured to the-barrel. end, as. indicated at, l3, andthe enlarged portion-.9 of the. barrelis provided witha cylindrically'concave areav adapted to con-form to and to-seat against a cylindrical container or reservoir I4. Registering apertures l5" and [6,. respectively, in the gun barrel and in thezreservoirwall permit 'communication between thebarrel and; reservoir forthe admission of compressed air into the; latter and for the purpose of permitting a liquid discharge; syphon or eduction tube IT to be easily introduced into and to be removed from. thereservoir. The reservoir is provided with a fill opening over which a fill neck or threaded nipple IB. is secured to the reservoir as by soldering and normally is closed in air tight relation by a threaded cap [9. The gun barrel is soldered as bysolder 2| to the reservoir M to effect'an air tight jointtherebetween. Ordinarily the reservoir may be filled with whatever liquid is to be sprayed, the depth of the filling being largely at thediscretion" of the. user, but preferably not exceeding two-thirds or three-fourths of the reservoircapacity; I

"The cap H! has a circularop'ening in its for- 22 into which a bushing orcyl'indrical' nozzle holder member 23 is fitted and circumferentially soldered as indicated at 24. A circumferential shoulder 25 on the bushing 23 positions the bushing with respect to the fiange 22 substantially coaxially with the barrel or pump cylinder 2. Bushing 23 is also provided with an inwardly directed circumferential shoulder 26 which pro-= vides an abutment for a purpose to be described. Disposed within the cylindrical bore 21 of the bushing is a nozzle member 28 which has a cylindrical portion adapted to make a relatively close but sliding and rotatable fit within such bore. This nozzle member has a longitudinal bore 29 of cylindrical shape and cylindrical surface of nozzle member 28 and is also provided with a cylindrical counter-bore 3| and with an orifice 32 from which the spray emerges. A circumferentially extending shoulder or projection 33, the outer surface of which is knurled as indicated at 34 in Fig. 1 provides a grip by which the user may grasp the nozzle member for adjustment, if so desired.

The nozzle of the form of the invention illustrated is designed to be disposed in either of two positions so that either rich or lean spray may be ejected from the nozzle. For this purpose the nozzle holder sleeve or bushing 23 is provided with a slot 35 of arcuate shape so oriented and arranged at its inner end, i. e., the end closest to the cap l2, that it will be directetd tangentially to the axis of the nozzle while its outer end will be so positioned that the axial distance between the inner and outer ends of the slot will correspond substantially with the desired distance of longitudinal travel of the nozzle member within the bore of the bushing or holder. A pin generally designated 36 having an enlarged head and a threaded shank passes through the slot 35 and makes threaded engagement with the nozzle member, as indicated at 31, within a threaded bore in the latter. The operators finger or thumb may be used to swing the pin 36 from one end of the slot 35 to the other thereby rotating or oscillating and translating the nozzle member from one extreme position to the other.

The eduction or discharge tube l1 preferably is arcuately curved throughout those portions which pass through the forward portion of the gun barrel and into the reservoir, but at its outer end is straight and cylindrical for reciprocatory or rotary or oscillatory movements within and relative to bore 29 of the nozzle member. The forward end of tube l1 makes a close but sliding fit within the bore 29 so that there is, substantially, a plunger and cylinder arrangement, with the result that certain air ports, to be described, may be closed off when the nozzle member is moved back from the position of Fig. to that of Fig. 4. Of course, under normal conditions the tube l1 itself does not move since it is held frictionally in the position shown by a spring retainer member 38 which is soldered or otherwise afiixed thereto, as indicated at 39, and which retainer or stop member is engaged in frictional abutment against the previously described shoulder 26. A compression spring 4| abuts at one end against the spring retainer or stop member 38 and at its other end abuts against the end of the counterbore 3|.

Spring 4|, tending to expand, exerts its force against the stop 33 and the nozzle member, but since the stop 38 fixes it against movement rearwardly, it tends to urge the nozzle member forward out of the bore in the bushing 23 and longitudinally of the eduction or discharge tube l1.

Therefore, when the pin 36 is released from the co-axial with the,

tangential end of the slot 35, the spring will urge the nozzle member forwardly until the pin 36 engages the outer end or limit of the slot. In reverse movement the operator either by grasping the knurled portion 34 or by operating the pin 36 may return the nozzle member to its innermost position against the resistance of spring 4! and at this position the pin 36 being engaged in the tangential portion of the slot, the nozzle will be held in such position until again released. The relationship of the parts when the nozzle is at its inner position is shown in Fig. 4, while Fig. 5 illustrates the relative positions of the parts when the nozzle member is at its outermost position.

Compressed air entering the reservoir l4 exerts pressure against the liquid in the reservoir to displace the liquid therefrom through the eduction or discharge tube I1. This would eject liquid from the nozzle orifice 32 in a relatively solid stream except as modified by the spray effect of the nozzle orifice.- While this type of spray might be satisfactory and under some conditions and circumstances, a better and more desirable type of spray is eifected where air is mixed with the liquid, among other things the air serving as an aid in disintegrating and breaking up the liquid into fine particles. In order to supply air to the liquid for this purpose, the eduction or discharge tube is transversely drilled through on a. diameter to provide two pairs of orifices or air bleed apertures 42 and 43, the forward set 42 being of a diameter substantially larger than the diameter of the rear set 43. The relative diameters of the orifices or air bleed apertures 42 and 43 may be varied over relatively wide limits, depending upon the relative proportions of air and liquid desired, but in ordinary instances the orifices may be of such diameters as may be pro vided by a No. '72 drill and a No. 64 drill.

At the time air is passing into the reservoir, air is also passing around the spring stop 38, the sides of which are cut away, as indicated at 44, for this purpose and, if the nozzle is in its forward position, as indicated in Fig. 5, will pass through the apertures or orifices 42 and 43 into the straight portion of the eduction tube, thereby to mix with the liquid flowing to the nozzle to aid in forcing liquid from the nozzle and in breaking the liquid particles into a fine spray. When air is passing into the eduction tube through both sets of orifices or air bleed apertures 42 and 43, the spray will be relatively lean, but when the nozzle member is moved rearwardly to the position indicated in Fig. 4, the forward set of orifices or air bleed apertures 42 will be disposed within the bore 29 so that no air can enter the tube 'therethrough and the mixture and spray will be relatively rich. Accordingly, the operator, merely by flipping the nozzle from one position to the other by manipulation of the pin 36 or by grasping the knurled portion 34, may change the quality of the spray to suit his desires.

The invention has been illustrated and described as applied to a hand sprayer in a single embodiment, but as it is susceptible of other applications and various other modifications and arrangements, I desire to be limited only by the invention spirit and the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In :a sprayer for insecticides and the like having a liquid reservoir and means for subjecting liquid in said reservoir to air under pressure and for supplying air under pressure to a nozzle, a

spray nozzle comprising, a relatively fixed nozzle head holder having a smooth cylindrical bore, a nozzle head member rotatably and slidably disposed in the bore of said holder and having a bore and a spray outlet orifice from the bore, a liquid supply tube secured relative to said holder and having its delivery end disposed in said head member bore and slidably fitting therein for movements of the head member longitudinally of the axis of the tube, said tube delivery end having an aperture through the wall thereof for the admission of air into said tube, a spring abutment on said tube, spring means abutting said abutment and said head member and normally tending to move said head member longitudinally of the tube axis, said holder having an arcuate slot extending through one side thereof transversely of its bore, said slot having components of direction both longitudinally and circumferentially of said bore of said holder, and a manually engageable pin secured to said head member and extending through said slot for moving said head member in said holder bore against the action of said spring from one end of said slot to the other, said aperture in said tube being so located that it is disposed within said head member bore when the said pin is at one end of said slot and without said head member bore when said pin is at the end of said slot.

2. In a sprayer for insecticide and similar materials having a liquid reservoir, means for supplying air under pressure into said reservoir to displace liquid therefrom, a fixed liquid discharge conduit leading from said reservoir, and means providing a conduit for air to mix with liquid discharged from a nozzle orifice, a nozzle mechanism comprising, a fixed nozzle holder member having a smooth cylindrical bore, a nozzle head member having a spray discharge orifice and a bore communicating with said orifice, said head member being disposed in said holder member bore and movable between predetermined fixed limits, said discharge conduit having a tubular end portion fitting said head member bore with its discharge end adjacent to said orifice and having a port through its wall for the admission of air to its interior, said port being so spaced from said orifice-adjacent end that said port will be covered by and uncovered'by the wall of said head member bore upon relative reciprocation of said members between said fixed limits, said port when uncovered being in communication with said air conduit, spring means :for effecting relative movement of said members in one direction of the reciprocation, and means including a closed ended helical slot in said 'holder member and a pin passing through said slot and secured to said head member for effecting relative movement of said members and for determining said fixed limits.

3. In a spray gun nozzle for insecticide and similar sprayers, a sleeve-like noozle holder member rigidly secured to and projecting from the discharge end of a spray gun and having a smooth cylindrical bore and a slot through its side wall between its ends, said slot having closed ends and extending in a helix at once running longitudinally and perimetrically of said member substantially in the form of an arc the convex side of which is directed in a rearward direction toward the spray gun and that portion of the slot which is closest to the said spray gun being substantially tangent to a plane normal to the axis of said bore, a nozzle head member having a bore therethrough and being slidable and oscillatory within the bore of said sleeve, a relatively stationary liquid supply tube having one end portion thereof normally disposed in the bore of said tip member, said head member being relatively slidable longitudinally of and oscillatory about said supply tube end, spring means reacting between said tube and head members for urging the tube and head members relatively apart, a pair of longitudinally spaced openings through a wall of said supply tube, and manually engageable means secured to said head member and projecting outwardly through said slot for moving said head member in either of two positions relative to the terminal end of said tube, said head member covering one of said openings when in one of said positions but not covering either of said openings when in the other of said positions.

4. In a spray gun nozzle for insecticide and similar sprayers, a sleeve member rigidly secured to and projecting from the discharge and of a spray'gun and having a smooth cylindrical bore and a helical slot through its side wall between its ends, said slot having closed ends and extending at once longitudinally and perimetrically of said member substantially as an arc the convex side of which is directed in a rearward direction toward the spray gun and that portion of the slot which is closest to the said spray gun being substantially tangent to a plane perpendicular to the axis of said bore, a nozzle head member having a bore therethrough and a cylindrical portion at its rearward end having a sliding and oscillatory fit within the bore of said sleeve, a relatively fixed liquid supply tube having an end portion thereof normally disposed in the bore of said head member, spring means reacting between said tube member and head member for urging the tube and head members relatively apart, means securing said tube member against rearward movement relative to said sleeve member, and nozzle means secured to said head member and extending into said slot for causing longitudinal movement of said head member upon rotary movement of the 'head member, and for limiting the movements of said head member to two extreme positions, said head member being movable longitudinally of and oscillatory about the said tube end portion between the end limits of said slot, said tube end portion having an air inlet orifice through its side wall in a position between said fixed limits where it is disposed within the bore in said head member when said tip member operating means is at one end of said slot and withdrawn from said bore when the said head member operating means is at the other end of said slot.

LYNN FLETCHER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 136,780 Smith Mar. 11, 1873 987,413 Stow et al Mar. 21, 1911 1,000,447 Smith Aug. 15, 1911 1,671,319 Schauble May 29, 1928 1,723,715 Waters, Jr Aug, 6, 1929 1,774,652 Hudson Sept. 2, 1930 1,973,371 Charles et al Sept. 11, 1934 Certificate of Correction Patent No. 2,499,021 February 28, 1950 LYNN FLETCHER It is hereby certified that errors appear in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows:

Column 6, line 43, strike out the words and nozzle; line 54, for tip read head;

and that the said Letters Patent should be read with these corrections therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Oifice.

Signed and sealed this 27th day of June, A. D. 1950.

THOMAS F. MURPHY,

Assistant Uommz'ssz'oner of Patents. 

